On our own behalf: The AI-HUB@LMU is now also on LinkedIn. Visit us there to get even more timely information on everything going on. And of course, we would appreciate any engagement.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding two new projects involving LMU researchers to advance artificial intelligence and robotics. Prof. Dr. Stefan Feuerriegel leads CausalNet, an initiative to integrate causality into AI models, enhancing their reliability and utility in fields like medicine and business. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok and Prof. Dr. Björn Ommer spearhead GeniusRobot, focusing on AI-powered tactile sensing and dynamic manipulation for robots, with potential applications in automated manufacturing and human-machine interaction.

The Department of Media and Communication (IfKW) celebrates its 100th anniversary, tracing its origins from the Institute of Newspaper Studies to its modern focus on digital media, algorithms, and disinformation. In this interview, Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann and Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch reflect on the evolving media landscape, emphasizing the challenges posed by AI, the shifting role of journalists, and the critical need for media literacy in addressing societal issues like climate change and misinformation. The department’s milestone highlights its enduring impact on understanding communication in a rapidly changing world.

We wish you all a happy holiday season! This newsletter will take a brief winter break next month. We will be back on February 1.

The AI-HUB@LMU celebrates its members, their projects, and its exciting vision for the future of AI research, teaching, and transfer at LMU and beyond. Join us on January 29, 2025, at 6:00 pm in the Grand Hall (Große Aula) of LMU's Main Building for this special event! With a dynamic program and esteemed guests, we will showcase what AI@LMU stands for. More information will be shared soon—please spread the word and come celebrate with us!

The Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) invites you to its Open Lab Day on December 5, 2024, at the Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization (V2C). Under the theme (Re-)Imagine, students from LMU and TUM will showcase interactive and immersive VR projects developed for the LRZ CAVE, demonstrating their creativity and technical expertise. Attendees can explore virtual worlds, engage with cutting-edge VR research, and tour the SuperMUC-NG supercomputer. The event promises a dynamic intersection of technology, innovation, and education.

The LMU Center for Ethics and Philosophy in Practice invites you to the next session of its German-language discussion series, Nachgefragt – Ethikgespräche an der LMU, on December 3, 2024, from 19:30 to 21:00. Prof. Dr. Lena Ulbricht (University of Hildesheim) will explore the complex interplay between democracy and digitalization in her talk, Demokratie und Digitalisierung – ein Widerspruch? The hybrid event will examine whether digital technologies erode or enhance democratic values, proposing strategies for integrating democracy into technological design.